UPCOMING
102nd EUROCONSTRUCT CONFERENCE
European Construction Market Forecasts to 2029 and Macroeconomic Projections –
Understanding What Moves The Market
⸺ EUROCONSTRUCT's Winter UPDATE
Europe’s construction markets, forecast to 2029
The EUROCONSTRUCT network gathers in Vienna on 19–20 November 2026 for its 102nd Conference. Over a whole conference day, the network presents their latest forecasts to 2029 across all 19 member markets – from the macroeconomic scenario to detailed outlooks for housing, non-residential construction and civil engineering, each paired with invited lectures from leading industry experts.
The conference begins on Thursday, 19 November, with a pre-conference networking evening. The main conference day takes place on Friday, 20 November, at The House of Industry and will additionally be broadcast via live stream. The event opens with a geopolitical macro perspective from WIFO Director Prof. Felbermayr, which will be a defining factor for the construction industry through to 2029.
Three thematic focal points structure the programme
Residential construction: Alongside the EUROCONSTRUCT forecasts for European residential construction, a spotlight on the European Affordable Housing Plan and a dedicated presentation examines Austria’s limited-profit housing sector as a potential European reference model, along with its strategy for the coming years.
Non-residential construction: The forecasts for commercial and public building construction will be complemented by analyses on the recent sector problems as well as new WIFO research findings on the relationship between home-office use and demand for office space in an Austria–Germany comparison.
Civil engineering: In addition to the current forecasts, the programme examines how the phasing-out of the EU recovery funds (NGEU), and the development of EU funding programmes overall, will affect the project pipeline in the European infrastructure sector.
Can’t make it to Vienna? The event will be streamed to wherever you are.
AT A GLANCE
When
19–20 November 2026
Where
Vienna, Austria
Format
On-site & live stream
Host
WIFO · Austrian Institute of Economic Research
Coverage
19 member markets · forecasts to 2029
650,000
additional homes a year
A SPOTLIGHT ON HOUSING
The European Affordable Housing Plan targets 650,000 additional homes annually – on top of the 1.6 million built across Europe today. The conference is assessing what this means for the construction industry.
ON THE PROGRAMME — THREE FOCUS TOPICS
Opening with the macroeconomic outlook to 2029 and the EUROCONSTRUCT total construction forecast for all 19 markets, the day turns to three in-depth focus topics.
Housing
The EUROCONSTRUCT forecasts to 2029, with lectures on the European Affordable Housing Plan and its European implementation and a special focus on Austria’s non-profit housing strategy and market outlook.
3 invited lectures
Non-residential
Forecasts and additional lectures on the factors shaping non-residential (construction costs and regulatory pressures), alongside new WIFO research on working from home in Austria and Germany and its impact on the office market.
3 invited lectures
Civil engineering
The forecasts, plus a lecture on the project pipeline once NGEU funding phases out – and the future of EU funding programmes in civil engineering in general.
1 invited lecture
102ND EUROCONSTRUCT CONFERENCE · VIENNA
Conference programme
19
November
Pre-conference networking evening
17:30
Vienna Becomes a Metropolis
The networking event starts with a guided tour at The Museum of the City of Vienna. The tour centers on the theme “In search of the roots of the big city.” Meeting point is at the entrance inside the museum.
The Museum of the City of Vienna (Wien Museum)
📍 Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Vienna
19:00
Networking evening at Salon Plafond
The evening continues with a networking dinner at Salon Plafond, located at the Museum of Applied Arts. Meeting point is inside the restaurant.
Salon Plafond
Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna
FIRST COME FIRST SERVE · Seats are restricted
20
November
Day of EUROCONSTRUCT Conference
Morning session
8:30
Registration
European Macroeconomic Outlook to 2029
This lecture examines how today’s macroeconomic forces – interest rates, inflation, trade and consumption– and an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape are redrawing the map for Europe’s construction industry. Discover what these pressures mean for investment, supply chains, and the future of construction.
Speaker Prof. Gabriel Felbermayr · WIFO, Austrian Institute of Economic Research
The EUROCONSTRUCT Total Construction Market Outlook to 2029
After a prolonged drift, all three construction sectors are finally expanding together, albeit unevenly, in an early recovery that looks minor and short-lived. New building leads as renovation lags amid fading stimulus, against a fragile backdrop of weak confidence. With geopolitical strain and stretched public finances added in, one question dominates: a single-year setback, or the start of something more lasting?
Speaker Michael Klien · Senior Economist at WIFO, Austrian Institute of Economic Research
Focus topic · Housing
The EUROCONSTRUCT non-residential market outlook to 2029
The EUROCONSTRUCT Residential Construction Market Outlook to 2029
Housing has run a textbook arc: once the engine of European construction, then a casualty of rising rates and weakened affordability. The slump is now bottoming, but recovery looks slower and less assured than hoped. Meanwhile renovation, the sector’s largest segment, has gone quiet. Will the retrofit imperative reawaken it, or leave it idling?
Complemented by two invited lectures.
Speaker Amy Mulligan · Manager at Ernst & Young Ireland
Lecture 1
The European Affordable Housing Plan: Stimulus or Symbolism?
What targets does the European Union’s Affordable Housing Plan actually set, and which assumptions underpin its vision for easing the deepening housing crisis? While the plan promises to improve housing supply and affordability across member states, its effects hinge on national implementation – where divergent regulatory frameworks, fiscal capacities and political priorities may fragment any coherent EU-wide outcome. This lecture takes a critical look at the plan’s ambitions.
Speaker tba ·
Lecture 2
Limited-Profit Housing in Austria: Investment Roadmap and Challenges
This lecture examines the limited-profit housing sector as a potential best-practice example for Europe, focusing on the future delivery of new housing and the Austrian investment roadmap that underpins it. Drawing on recent sectoral data, it asks whether output can be sustained or expanded in the years ahead – and what financing, land and regulatory challenges must be overcome to raise the number of units delivered.
Speaker Gerald Kössl · Housing Researcher at GBV, Austrian Federation of Limited Profit Housing Associations
Lecture 3
Renovating Europe: The Housing Retrofit Market Between Dominant Share and Minor Growth
Residential renovation now makes up over 60% of spending on Europe’s existing housing stock – the market’s largest segment – yet growth stays weak, squeezed by high rates, rising costs and expiring national subsidies.
Residential renovation now makes up over 60% of spending on Europe’s existing housing stock – the market’s largest segment – yet growth stays weak, squeezed by high rates, rising costs and expiring national subsidies. Drawing on the EIB’s hands-on financing experience, this lecture maps where retrofit demand, regulation and funding are heading through 2028 – from EPBD targets to the skilled-labour shortage – and points to the segments offering the most realistic growth for construction and building-material companies.
Speaker tba ·
Introduction of the 103rd EUROCONSTRUCT Conference
Lunch break
Afternoon session
Focus topic · Non-residential construction
The EUROCONSTRUCT non-residential market outlook to 2029
The EUROCONSTRUCT Non-Residential Market Outlook to 2029
The cautious non-residential sector outperformed housing yet drifted near flat – slowest to turn amid investor hesitation and high build costs. Offices are the clear weak spot, with faint demand, rising vacancies and stalled investment. Modernisation and energy-efficiency works may revive momentum. Does the office overhang become a lasting drag – or the seedbed of the next renovation wave?
Paired with three further lectures.
Speaker Lorenzo Rodriguez-Fernandez · Director at Keystone Economics UK
Lecture 1
Non-Residential Construction at a Turning Point? – Constraints, Adaptation and Forward Outlook
Elevated financing costs, scarce materials and labour, and a weakened office sector are reshaping development economics. Through a real estate lens, the question is which asset classes remain viable, which require repricing, and where capital migrates next – and whether these shifts are cyclical or permanent.
Speaker tba ·
Lecture 2
Work From Home and Office Construction
Working from home and hybrid models are prompting companies to rethink their office concepts, which affects the office property market – a special survey examined what impact these changes have had on office space in Austria, including a comparison with Germany.
Speaker Michael Klien · Senior Economist at WIFO, Austrian Institute of Economic Research
Lecture 3
From Capital to Capacity: What Will and Will Not Be Built in European Data Centres
Demand and available capital have both reached unprecedented levels, yet across Europe a growing share of data centre projects stalls at the point of grid connection and planning consent. This lecture assesses the divergence between Europe’s investment ambitions and its capacity for physical delivery, and outlines the construction outlook for a market increasingly shaped by rising AI-driven rack densities, constrained power availability and a measurable shift of growth towards emerging regional markets.
Speaker tba ·
Coffee break
Focus topic · Civil engineering
The EUROCONSTRUCT non-residential market outlook to 2029
The EUROCONSTRUCT Civil Engineering Market Outlook to 2029
Civil engineering is positioned to keep markets afloat, having stayed positive while buildings faltered. The energy transition is the standout driver – alongside rail and water. Public funding acts as both fuel and ceiling, tying the sector’s fate to strained budgets, with defence opening a new avenue from the same purse. Can these pipelines outpace tightening finances?
Speaker Stefanie Siegrist · Staff member at KOF Swiss Economic Institute (ETH Zurich)
Lecture
The Future of EU Infrastructure Funding - What is coming up next?
The Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) expires at soon. Under the Commission’s proposal for the 2028–2034 MFF, its performance-based approach is set to be continued in a new generation of national and regional partnership plans, which would largely bundle previously separate funding streams into a single plan per Member State. At the same time, the Connecting Europe Facility is set to enter its next phase with CEF III – with a strengthened focus on the European transport and energy corridors, including military mobility.
Speaker tba ·
INTRODUCING OUR FIRST
SPEAKERS
The speaker’s list will be updated continuously.
Gabriel Felbermayr
Director at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research
Michael Klien
Senior economist at the Austrian Institute of Economic Research
Amy Mulligan
Manager at Ernst & Young Economic Advisory Ireland
Lorenzo Rodriguez-Fernandez
Director at Keystone Economics
Stefanie Siegrist
Research staff at KOF – Swiss Economic Institute
GERALD KOESSL
Researcher at the Austrian Federation of Limited-Profit Housing Associations
Attractive TaIlored
Conference Packages
*) Exclusive rate for each additional colleague attending the on-site event with a Standard or Premium package.
WHERE TO GO
102nd VENUES
Networking venues
Vienna becomes a metropolis – Guided Tour
Museum of the City of Vienna (Wien Museum)
Karlsplatz 8, 1040 Vienna
www.wienmuseum.at | Find on Google Maps
Networking dinner event
Salon Plafond im MAK
Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna
www.salonplafond.wien | Find on Google Maps
Main conference venue
The House of Industry
Schwarzenbergplatz 4, 1030 Vienna, Austria
www.iv.at | Find on Google Maps
CONTACT
Questions about the conference?
For inquiries about the 102nd EUROCONSTRUCT‑Conference, please get in touch – we’re happy to help with registration, the programme, or press.
Conference CONTACT
Michael Weingärtler
WIFO · Austrian Institute of Economic Research
WHERE TO STAY
Staying in Vienna
We have arranged preferential rates at two hotels close to the conference venue. Quote EUROCONSTRUCT when booking to secure the conference rate.
4 star SuperioR · Am Stadtpark
Hotel am Konzerthaus – MGallery Collection
Set beside the historic Konzerthaus, this elegant hotel blends musical heritage with contemporary comfort. Refined rooms, a stylish bar and thoughtful service make for a memorable stay. Its central position offers easy access to Vienna’s cultural landmarks, ideal for conference guests seeking sophistication and charm in equal measure.
To venue
≈ 2 min walk
Conference rate
from € 168 / night
5-star · Am Stadtpark
Hotel InterContinental am Stadtpark
Facing the tranquil Stadtpark, this distinguished hotel offers refined accommodation in the heart of Vienna. Well-appointed rooms, attentive service and generous facilities ensure a pleasant stay. Its excellent transport links and proximity to major attractions make it a dependable and elegant option for those attending the conference.
To venue
≈ 5 min walk
Conference rate
from € 378 / night
5-star · Am Stadtpark
Vienna Marriott Hotel
Overlooking the Stadtpark on the elegant Ringstrasse, this welcoming hotel combines spacious accommodation with excellent amenities. Guests enjoy a fitness centre, indoor pool and inviting dining options. Its prime location places the city centre within easy reach, making it a comfortable and convenient choice for delegates attending the conference.
To venue
≈ 10 min walk
Conference rate
from € 406 / night
5-star · Am Stadtpark
Hilton Vienna Park
Beautifully positioned alongside the Stadtpark, this modern hotel pairs contemporary design with warm hospitality. Comfortable rooms, a well-equipped gym and appealing dining venues await every guest. Its convenient location near the city centre and transport connections makes it a practical and stylish base for conference attendees.
To venue
≈ 15 min walk
Conference rate
from € 283 / night
Please note that no special conference rates are available. All prices are indicative only, quoted per room per night (June 2026), and exclude city tax. Accommodation is not included in the conference fee and must be booked individually.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
OUR AUDIENCE
The EUROCONSTRUCT conferences are aimed at anyone interested in the economic development of the European construction industry. The focus is on decision-makers, strategic marketing staff and all those involved in construction forecasting.
From an industry perspective, the event is aimed at the construction and construction supply industries. Attendees also include finance, insurance, consultancy and public institutions professionals.
The majority of attendees are from Europe. They also come from countries looking to open up new business opportunities in Europe.
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
CONSTRUCTION SUPPLY INDUSTRY
FINANCE AND INSURANCE INDUSTRY
DEVELOPERS
PUBLIC BODIES AND INTEREST GROUPS
JOiN US
CONFERENCE PARTNERS
Gain exclusive visibility and connect with key industry leaders at our EUROCONSTRUCT-Conferences.
Become a Partner!
Contact: office@euroconstruct.org
We are proud to partner with the following organisation for this conference:
ACE – The Architects’ Council of Europe, the representative organisation for the architectural profession at European level, and it aspires to speak with a single voice on its behalf in order to achieve its objectives. Its growing membership currently consists of 52 member organisations, which are the regulatory and professional representative bodies in all European Union (EU) Member States, Accession Countries, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Norway, and six observer members (Serbia, Ukraine, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Republic of Kosovo, Republic of Moldova). Through them, the ACE represents the interests of more than half a million architects from 36 European countries.
EUROCONSTRUCT INSIGHTS
WHAT TO EXPECT
IN-DEPTH EXPERTISE
Join our keynote speakers and learn more about the latest trends in European construction and the influencing factors behind them. Take advantage of our long history and in-depth regional and sector expertise.
PRACTICAL BENEFITS
Engage with experts and industry leaders on the topics which matter most for you. There will be plenty of time for this in the numerous discussion panels throughout the conference.
INSIGHTFUL TAKEAWAY
Power-up your network, meet potential business partners and take a closer look at our network and the people behind it.
A GLIMPSE INTO THE PAST
PREVIOUS CONFERENCES
STANDARD PACKAGE
$ 2,000
Networking Evening
Conference Participation
Summary Report
Conference Report
PREMIUM PACKAGE
$ 2,600
Networking Evening
Conference Participation
Conference Report
BONUS:
Summary Report
+ Country Report
ADDITIONAL PARTICIPANT
$ 1,000
Networking Evening
Conference Participation
Summary Report
Conference Report
PREVIOUS ATTENDEES AND SPONSORS
